Here’s who stood in for the role of Joker in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) in place of Jared Leto. The character had previously been played by Jared Leto in the DC Extended Universe with his portrayal in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad. Since Birds of Prey focused on Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and her epic female team-up, the Joker’s presence wasn’t necessary, but it was still somewhat felt.

When Leto emerged as the Clown Prince of Crime in Suicide Squad, reception for his take on the beloved DC villain was predominantly negative. Fans were unconvinced with his version of the Joker, which came off more irritating than menacing. His romance with Harley took focus for a good chunk of the film, but it wasn’t surprising to see the Joker cut from Birds of Prey. The character did, however, did have a quick non-speaking cameo when Harley’s breakup with Mr. J was shown (and in another torture flashback scene)

Rather than ask back Leto to reprise his role, Birds of Prey cast indie rocker Johnny Goth as the infamous Joker. Aside from confirming the casting on social media, Goth spoke about his gig (via JoBlo). The feature film newcomer shared that he knew a few people working on Birds of Prey and heard there was a need for a Joker stand-in. They realized that Goth fit the Joker costume and his hands were the same size as Leto, making him a perfect body double for the flashback sequence.

Birds of Prey had no plans to bring back Leto or focus heavily on Joker directly. Robbie has been outspoken about the decision to cut the Jester of Genocide and follow Harley’s journey as she tackles life on her own. For this reason, there wasn’t a need to hire a big name or seasoned actor to fill in for scenes that simply required a body double. Most viewers probably wouldn’t recognize Goth even if his face was shown, since he doesn’t have acting credits. That could soon change since he’s an emerging California-based musician, but he’s probably not seeking many high-profile acting gigs at the moment.

It will interesting to see what the future holds for the Joker following Birds of Prey. The DCEU looks to be quietly putting an end to Leto’s run as the character by setting up a recast. Unlike many of the other Suicide Squad cast members, Leto will not be involved in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad and it’s unlikely Joker will even appear in the film. If his paths cross with Harley Quinn again in the DCEU, all signs are pointing that Robbie will have a new scene partner. Leto will probably be just fine considering he’s playing the lead role in Marvel’s upcoming film, Morbius.

Next: Harley Quinn’s DC Movie Future After Birds of Prey

  • Wonder Woman 2 Release Date: 2020-12-25 The Batman Release Date: 2022-03-04 Suicide Squad 2 Release Date: 2021-08-06 Black Adam Release Date: 2022-10-21 Shazam! The Fury of the Gods Release Date: 2023-03-17 The Flash Movie Release Date: 2023-06-23 Aquaman 2 Release Date: 2023-12-25 Super Pets Release Date: 2022-07-29